Deviate

“John Hughes, and really all of best 1980s teen movies, were saying that the stories of teenagers are the stories of all of us. They have the same human need and longing that the stories of adults have.” —Kevin Smokler In this episode of Deviate, Rolf discusses classic coming-of-age films with Kevin Smokler (@Weegee), author of Brat Pack America: A Love Letter to ’80s Teen Movies. The discussion themes, cultural references, and time-codes that outline this expansive conversation are as follows: Kids having adult adventures movies [2:30 – 17:00] Links: Stand By Me (1986 film) Different Seasons, by Stephen King (book) Rob Reiner (film director) Season 4 of The Wire (TV season) David Simon (TV writer-producer) Boyz in the Hood (1991 film) John Singleton (film director) “12 Great Coming-Of-Age Movie Final-Scene Songs,” by Rolf Potts Emblematic teen movies [17:00 -45:10] Links: Breakfast Club (1985 film) John Hughes (filmmaker) Sixteen Candles (1984 film) Long Duk Dong (Sixteen Candles character) Apu Nahasapeemapetilon (Simpsons character) Hari Kondabolu (standup comic) How to American, by Jimmy O. Yang (memoir) Fresh Off the Boat (TV show) Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982 film) Say Anything (1989 film) Cameron Crowe (writer-director) John Mahoney (actor) Ione Skye (actress) Heathers (1989 film) Daniel Waters (screenwriter) Riot grrrl (feminist punk movement) Dead Poets Society (1989 film) Dylan Kussman (actor) Norman Lloy...

“The greatest blessing for me, from having all these losses, has been the otherworldly, supreme clarity about what’s important to me—about how much I love and how much I am loved.” – Heather Dobbins In this episode of Deviate, Rolf, Heather Dobbins, and Jamie-Lee Josselyn discuss personal loss, grief and mourning, including the importance of gestures over words (2:30); the rituals that surround loss and mourning (18:00); the task of facing holidays and difficult moments in the years following a personal loss (30:00); and funerals and bearing witness to the life and death of loved ones (44:00). Heather Dobbins, is a teacher, poet, and writer of In the Low Houses and River Mouth. Jamie-Lee Josselyn (@jljosselyn), is a creative writing instructor, essayist, and host of the Dead Parents Society podcast. Notable Links: Rainer Maria Rilke (poet) “A Coffin—is A Small Domain,” by Emily Dickinson The Book of Psalms: A Translation (book) Guests of My Life, by Elizabeth Watson (book) Elegy: Poems, by Mary Jo Bang (book) “You Were You Are Elegy,” by Mary Jo Bang David Letterman (television host) Annie Dillard (author) Six Feet Under (television series) Freaks and Geeks (television series) The Legend of Zelda (video game series) Sudden unexplained death in childhood The Kelly Writers House Note: We don’t host a “comments” section, but we’re happy to hear your questions and insights via email, at [email protected].

“All writing is trying to destroy a stereotype, and the individual that you’re writing about — the figure in the landscape — is actually the ideal.” —Paul Theroux Paul Theroux‘s highly acclaimed novels include Blinding Light, My Other Life, and The Mosquito Coast. His 1975 book The Great Railway Bazaar is credited with revitalizing the genre of literary travel writing, and his more recent travel books include Ghost Train to the Eastern Star, Dark Star Safari, and The Last Train to Zona Verde. In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and Paul talk about Theroux’s new book Figures in a Landscape, and strategies for writing about the “human architecture of a place” (4:30); the attitude and time-investment required for meaningful travel reportage (19:30); the qualities that determine successful travel writing (24:50); the essential discomforts and obstacles of travel (31:45); the uses and shortcomings of paper maps in developing countries (39:15); and where Paul is traveling next (45:00). Books, articles, and films mentioned “Paul Theroux on Blogging, Travel Writing, and ‘Three Cups of Tea’” (2011 Atlantic interview) The Great Railway Bazaar, by Paul Theroux The Mosquito Coast, by Paul Theroux The Tao of Travel, by Paul Theroux Deep South, by Paul Theroux American Notes, by Charles Dickens Barbary Shore, by Norman Mailer Journey Without Maps, by Graham Greene Sea and Sardinia, by D.H. Lawrence Travels, by Ibn Battuta Travels, by Marco Polo Lafcadio Hearn’s Japan: An Anthology India: A Million Mutinies Now, by V.S. Naipaul “Paul Theroux’s Quest to Define Hawaii” (2012 Smithsonian article) “Mandalay,” by Rudyard Kipling (poem) Rashomon (1950 Akira Kurosawa film) The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (1943 film) People mentioned Doris Lessing (novelist and poet) Tom Wolfe (author and journalist) Robin Williams (actor and comedian) Elizabeth Taylor (actress) Michael Jackson (singer-songwriter) Rod Steiger (actor) Mike Nichols (film director) Margaret Mead (anthropologist)

“I think the fate of humanity ultimately rests on how we conserve and protect that thin, magical layer of soil on this planet” – David Van Tassel David Van Tassel is a lead scientist at The Land Institute, a non-profit research, education, and policy organization dedicated to sustainable agriculture. In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and David discuss Agriculture 101 (3:00); the impact of agriculture on the formation of society (25:00); farming, modernity, and the Green Revolution (39:00); The Land Institute and the push to develop perennial staple plants (47:00); and politics and the long game of sustainable agriculture (1:13:00). Notable Links: Perennial plant Annual plant Green Revolution Evolutionary biology (subfield of biology) Sexual selection (mode of natural selection) Origin of domestic dogs Monoculture (agricultural practice) Polyculture (agricultural practice) Kernza (perennial grass) Silphium (perennial sunflower) Upland rice (type of rice) Japonica rice (type of rice) Indica rice (type of rice) Columbian Exchange Farmers of Forty Centuries, by F.H. King (book) Wes Jackson (Founder and President, The Land Institute) Nature as Measure, by Wes Jackson (book) Maya Civilization (ancient civilization) Anasazi (ancient civilization) Mesopotamia (historical region) Ancient Egyptian agriculture Jerry Glover (soil scientist at The Land Institute) Scree (geological feature) Loess (type of soil) The Deviate theme music comes from the title track of Cedar Van Tassel’s 2017 album Lumber. Note: We don’t host a “comments” section, but we’re happy to hear your questions and insights via email, at [email protected].

“I met people who would say, ‘I wish I had more time to travel like you do.’ They had more money than time, and I had more time than money. In terms of traveling it’s much better to have more time than more money. …If you have a chance to travel, just do it. You won’t regret it.” – Kevin Kelly Kevin Kelly (@kevin2kelly) is a polymath in the truest sense of the word. Aside from being a co-founder of Wired magazine, he is also co-founder of the Rosetta Project, which is aiming to build an archive of all documented human languages, and he serves on the board of the Long Now Foundation. He is a photographer, writer, and futurist (he was “futurist adviser” on the 2002 Steven Spielberg movie, Minority Report), with much of his work centering on Asian and digital culture. In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and Kevin discuss the inspiration for his Asia travel in the 1970s (3:00); getting around and dealing with language barriers (15:00); the people he encountered while traveling in Asia, and the life-expanding nature of his journey (32:00); what he packed (47:00); modernity and technology in Asia, and managing his photography during travel (1:07:00); and self-actualization, discovering oneself through travel, and what the future holds in Asia. For more on Kevin, check out http://kk.org/ Notable Links: Asia Grace, by Kevin Kelly (photography book) “Shoulda Been Dead” (This American Life episode on Kevin’s Jerusalem conversion experience) Out of Control, by Kevin Kelly (book) Kevin Kelly’s interview with Tim Ferriss (podcast episode) “1000 True Fans” by Kevin Kelly (essay) Aerogram (pre-stamped airmail envelope) Poste restante (postal pick-up service for travelers) Maureen Wheeler (publisher) Tony Wheeler (publisher) Rick Steves (travel writer and publisher) Hilary Bradt (guidebook publisher) Bill Dalton (guidebook publisher) Lonely Planet (travel guidebook) Moon Guide (travel guidebook) Rough Guides (travel guidebook) National Geographic (magazine) Video Night in Kathmandu, by Pico Iyer (book) Leaves of Grass, by Walt Whitman (book) Hippie Trail (travel route) “Re...

“My specializations come from who I am. I’m a little unusual in the therapy field because I state very clearly what my identifications are. Which is that I’m kinky, and that I’m poly, and that I identify as queer, and that I’m gender fluid, and that I’m a former sex worker.” –Dulcinea Pitagora Dulcinea Pitagora (@KinkDoctor) is a New York-based psychotherapist specializing in alternative sexuality. She is the host of the web series Kink Doctor. In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and Dulcinea discuss the specifics of dominatrix work (2:00); the difficulties and hurdles involved with dominatrix and other sex work (25:00); Dulcinea’s personal path into sex work and sex therapy (31:00); sex therapy and alternative sexualities (47:00); and Fifty Shades of Grey and public perceptions of kink (1:00:00). For more on Dulcinea, check out http://www.dulcineapitagora.com Sex terms dicussed: Cisgender (gender identity) Non-binary/gender fluidity (gender identity) Pain play (sex practice) Role play (sex practice) BDSM/power exchange (sex practice) Vanilla (sex behavior) Kink (sex behavior) Safe word (BDSM communication) Fetish (sexual fixation) Polyamory (relationship practice) “Pegging” for straight men (Subreddit page, NSFW) Other links: The Erotic Mind, by Jack Morin (book) Perv, by Jesse Bering (book) Modern Sexuality, by Michael Aaron (book) Sexual Outsiders: Understanding BSM Sexualities, by David Ortmann and Richard Sprott (book) Rewriting the Rules, by Meg John Barker (book) 50 Shades of Grey, by E.L. James (novel) Tristan Taormino (feminist author) Janet Hardy (sex educator) FetLife (social networking for kinky people) AltSex NYC (conference) Manhattan Alternative (sex-positive therapist coalition) The Deviate theme music comes from the title track of Cedar Van Tassel’s 2017 album Lumber. Note: We don’t host a “comments” section, but we’re happy to hear your questions and insights via email, at [email protected].

“Better or happier usually takes much less time than we think.” – Sarah Von Bargen Sarah Von Bargen (@yesandyesblog) is a writer, teacher, and business/lifestyle consultant. Her work focuses on goal-setting, work/life balance, productivity habits, money management, and the pursuit of happiness. In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and Sarah deconstruct her six principles for identifying, embracing, and maintaining happiness: Principle #1: You’re probably not the exception to the rule (6:30) Principle #2: Stop pretending it’s easy (15:30) Principle #3: The truth about work/life balance is that you’re going to find “success” a lot slower if you have that balance (17:30) Principle #4: Track your process not your progress (37:30) Principle #5: You probably can’t predict what will work (45:50) Principle #6: Don’t set goals you can’t control (50:00) For more from Sarah, check out her blog, yesandyes.org Notable Links: Moment (productivity app) Pomodoro Technique (time management method) Freedom (productivity app) Anti-Social (productivity app) Association of Writers and Writing Programs Conference Everest mountaineer Alison Levine on introversion and finding mentors (episode of Deviate with Rolf Potts podcast True Story (interview series, by Sarah Von Bargen) Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil in Rosedale, Mississippi, by Rolf Potts (article) The Deviate theme music comes from the title track of Cedar Van Tassel’s 2017 album Lumber. Note: We don’t host a “comments” section, but we’re happy to hear your questions and insights via email, at [email protected].

“All lessons are delayed. Very few of us actually receive the lesson right there, when it is delivered to us.” –Al Filreis Al Filreis (@Afilreis) is a Professor at the University of Pennsylvania and Director of the Center for Programs in Contemporary Writing at the University of Pennsylvania. He is also the founder and Faculty Director of The Kelly Writers House, a non-profit, community organization dedicated to creative writing and the literary arts. He is also author of such books as Counter-revolution of the Word: The Conservative Attack on Modern Poetry, 1945-1960 and Modernism from Right to Left. In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and Al discuss the underpinnings today’s educational framework (2:45); improving our educational process (20:00); self-learning (30:00); curation of content (44:00); Twitter and our ongoing societal dialogue (1:01:00); and pedagogy and the polis (1:17:00). For more from Al, check out The Kelly Writers House, his PoemTalk podcast, or “The end of the lecture as we know it.” Education-oriented links: MOOC (Massive Open Online Courses) Modern Poetry (“ModPo”) MOOC (online course) TED (media organization) The Great Courses (audio courses) Coursera (education company) iTunes U (audio courses) edX (MOOC provider) Chautauqua (19th century adult education movement) Other links: Heart of Darkness, by Joseph Conrad (novel) Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe (novel) Colonialism (national imperial policy) William Carlos Williams (poet) Emily Dickerson (poet) Triumph of the Will (German propaganda film) Schindler’s List (film) Rambo (film series) Free Speech Movement (student protest) Quakers (religious theology) Lutheranism (religious theology) Socratic method (teaching theory) Net neutrality (principle) Desegregation in Yonkers (political campaign) Shooting of Stephon Clark (police shooting)

“What we have found is that technologies are not prolonging human life. They are really just prolonging human death.” – Ann Neumann Ann Neumann (@otherspoon) is a visiting scholar at the NYU Center for Religion and Media and author of the book, The Good Death. In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and Ann discuss what got her involved in the topic of death and dying (5:00); end-of-life care (13:00); confronting the finality of death, and the parallels between death and travel (22:00); hospice, and dignity in death (39:00); the evolving definition of death and associated medical logistics (44:00); and how we address death as a society (56:00). For more from Ann, check out her author website. People and books mentioned: Desert Solitaire, by Edward Abbey Ecclesiastes (book of the Old Testament) Barbara Ehrenreich (author and political activist) Joanne Lynn (author and policy advocate) Natural Causes: An Epidemic of Wellness, the Certainty of Dying, and Killing Ourselves to Live Longer, by Barbara Ehrenreich (book) Knocking on Heaven’s Door, by Katy Butler (book) “What Broke My Father’s Heart,” by Katy Butler (article) Being Mortal, by Atul Gawande (book) “Letting Go,” by Atul Gawande (article) Caitlin Doughty (author and mortician) Karen Ann Quinlan (significant figure in the history of the right to die) Nancy Cruzan (significant figure in the history of the right to die) Terri Schaivo (significant figure in the history of the right to die) Michel Foucault (philosopher) Jacob Appel (writer) Notable concepts and medical terms: Memento mori (theory of mortality) Alzheimer’s disease (neurodegenerative disease) Hospice (type/philosophy of health care) Intubation (medical procedure) Do not resuscitate (medical legal order) Persistent vegetative state (disorder of consciousness) Advance healthcare directive (legal document) #BucketListPlus1 (end-of-life care campaign) Biopolitics (intersectional academic discipline) Mensch (Yiddish word/concept)

“That’s the lovely thing about a souvenir: It’s a touchstone that reminds you of what you can do, and what you have done, and what you can be proud of. And what can make you laugh.” –Jeanmarie Theobalds To celebrate the debut of his new book Souvenir, Rolf invited various writers, performers, and world-wanderers onstage at New York’s underground Cornelia Street Cafe to tell travel stories. Storytellers included: Comedian Ari Shaffir Ari Shaffir tells a story about a t-shirt, a Czech model, and a bunch of gibbons in Thailand. Ari is a comedian, actor, podcaster, writer, and producer. He is the host of the Skeptic Tank podcast, the stand up series This Is Not Happening on Comedy Central, and the Netflix comedy special Double Negative. He also co-hosts the podcast Punch Drunk Sports with Jayson Thibault and Sam Tripoli, and is a regular guest on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast. Playwright Alex Dawson Alex Dawson tells a story about Alabama, and his mother’s boots. Alex is the founder of Raconteur Ventures, a company dedicated to reviving communities through cultural programming, and the host of Raconteurs & Roustabouts, a vaudevillian variety show that puts authors on stage alongside musicians and sideshow performers. He teaches creative writing and audio narrative at Rutgers University. He is the curator/host of Rutgers University’s “Inside the Writers House,” a weekly series of candid conversations with acclaimed authors. Photographer Jeanmarie Theobalds Jeanmarie Theobalds tells a story about a “magic ring” she bought in Brazil. Jeanmarie is a freelance oral historian and oral history project consultant. For many years she was an editorial portrait photographer in New York. She was awarded the William J. Fulbright to photograph and interview women potters in Bahia Brazil. Upon her return from Brazil, she pursued her interest in the art of interviewing through oral history and earned a M.A. in oral history from Columbia University. Poet Tommy Pico Tommy Pico reads an excerpt from his forthcoming book Junk, which Tin House Books will debut this May. Tommy is also the author IRL (Birds LLC, 2016) and Nature Poem (Tin House Books, 2017). He was a Queer/Art/Mentors inaugural Fellow, Lambda Literary Fellow in poetry, and NYSCA/NYFA Fellow in Poetry from the New York Foundation for the Arts, and he’s the winner of a Whiting Award and the Brooklyn Public Lib...

“Essentially, a romance is a courtship story. And if you think about it, courtship stories are part of the foundation of human storytelling” –Sarah Wendell Sarah Wendell (@SmartBitches) is an author and blogger whose work primarily focuses on the romance fiction genre. She is co-author of the book, Beyond Heaving Bosoms: The Smart Bitches’ Guide to Romance Novels. In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and Sarah discuss the elements of a romance novel book cover (13:00); plot and structure of a romance novel (24:00); the history the romance genre (34:00); and the evolution of romance fiction characters and tropes (46:00). For more from Sarah, check out her website: Smart Bitches, Trashy Books Notable Links: RT Booklovers Convention “Where no Travel Writer has Gone Before“, by Rolf Potts (article) Elements of Surprise: Our Mental Limits and the Satisfactions of Plot, by Vera Tobin (book) Gone with the Wind, by Margaret Mitchell (novel and film) Gone Girl, by Gillian Flynn (novel) Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen (novel) Turducken (novelty dish) Fabio (romance cover model) Mullet (hairstyle) #MeToo movement The Crazy Nastyass Honey Badger (viral video) Asexuality Demisexuality Black Panther (film) Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L’Engle (novel and film) Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda , by Becky Albertalli (novel) Highlander (film) Romance novels, novelists, and genres mentioned: Prowl the Night, by Crystal Jordan (romance novel) The Raider, by Jude Deveraux (romance novel) Jude Deveraux the Raider Barbie & Ken Set (collectible toy) Sharon Shinn (romance novelist) Suzanne Brockmann’s Troubleshooters series Kate Duffy, editor at Kensington The Flame and the Flower, by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss (romance novel) Carina Press Romance Promise Paranormal romance (genre) Amish Vampires in Space, by Kerry Nietz (romance novel) Tamed: A Menage Dinosaur Shifter Romance, by...

“This is a thing that journalists do—they take a ‘two is a coincidence, three is a trend’ sort of thing and try to manufacture an idea out of it.” – James Greer James Greer is a screenwriter, music critic, author, and former rock musician. He-wrote the screenplay for Steven Soderbergh’s film Unsane, which is set for release on March 23rd. In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and James discuss his early career as a music critic and Spin magazine (4:00); Generation X and James’ role in popularizing this demographic cohort (13:00); the Nirvana revolution and the band’s impact on music (25:00); the legend of with Kurt Cobain (39:00); James’ post-Spin life (54:00); and his transition into screenwriting and making movies with Steven Soderbergh (1:04:00). Notable Links: The Upside to All the Online Chatter About ‘Girls”, by Rolf Potts (article) Proceeding With Caution, by David M. Gross and Sophronia Scott (article) Greer’s 1991 Spin article about Perry Farrell and Generation X Generation X: Tales for an Accelerated Culture, by Douglas Coupland (book) Pretty in Pink: The Golden Age of Teenage Movies, by Jonathan Bernstein (book) Generation X (demographic cohort) Grunge speak (hoax) Richard Linklater (director) Slacker (film) Janeane Garofalo (comedian) Jim Rose Circus Bro (subculture) Max Keeble’s Big Move (film) Just My Luck (film) Lindsay Lohan (actress) Jonathan Bernstein (screenwriter) Steven Soderbergh (filmmaker) Sex, Lies, and Videotape (film) Sex, Lies, and Videotape Movie Edition (film journal and screenplay) Raiders of the Lost Ark, by Steven Spielberg (remix version by Steven Soderbergh) Unsane (film) Red (digital camera company) Day-and-Date Release Strategy John Barth (author) Music-related links: Spin (magazine) Bob Guccione, Jr. (Spin publisher)

In the spirit of March Madness, Rolf brings us special episode of Deviate from the American heartland, where he tells us a basketball story about one of those “never before seen” sports moments. Notable Links: Kipp, Kansas (town) Aurora, Kansas (town) Schilling Air Force Base Donald J. Sobol (writer) Encyclopedia Brown, by Donald J. Sobol (book series) Encyclopedia Brown’s Second Record Book of Weird and Wonderful Facts 1964 NCAA University Division Basketball Tournament Gypsum, Kansas (town) Assaria, Kansas (town) Southeast of Saline School The Deviate theme music comes from the title track of Cedar Van Tassel’s 2017 album Lumber. Note: We don’t host a “comments” section, but we’re happy to hear your questions and insights via email, at [email protected].

“I think fear comes out of ignorance.” – Tim Cahill Tim Cahill is a journalist, author, and pioneering travel writer. In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and Tim discuss hooking the reader from the first line of a story (2:15); the start of Tim’s career and his early experiences in journalism (8:50); travel writing in the 1970s, and the evolution of travel writing (16:30); his relationship with risk and fear (24:00); his brush with death in the Grand Canyon (36:45); and how his connection with walking and travel has changed as he has aged (51:00). For more from Tim, check out his Rolling Stone and Outside archives, or his 2004 Q&A with Rolf. Mentioned writing by Tim Cahill In the Valley of the Shadow of Death: Guyana After the Jonestown Massacre, by Tim Cahill (article) The Shame of Escobilla, by Tim Cahill (article) My Drowning (and other Inconveniences), by Tim Cahill (article) Buried Dreams: Inside the Mind of John Wayne Gacy, by Tim Cahill (book) Pecked to Death by Ducks, by Tim Cahill (book) A Wolverine is Eating my Leg, by Tim Cahill (book) Hold the Enlightenment, by Tim Cahill (book) Jaguars Ripped my Flesh, by Tim Cahill (book) Pass the Butterworms, by Tim Cahill (book) Road Fever, by Tim Cahill (book) Other notable links Outside Magazine (publication) Gonzo Journalism (style of journalism) In medias res (narrative technique) Walt Whitman (poet and essayist) Ernest Hemingway (author) Emily Dickinson (poet) Mark Twain (author) Bill Cardoso (journalist) Queen Charlotte Islands (i.e., Haida Gwaii) Lava Falls (Grand Canyon rapids) Paleface v. Redskin (American literary dichotomy) The Deviate theme music comes from the title track of Cedar Van Tassel’s 2017 album Lumber. Note: We don’t host a “comments” section, but we’re happy to hear your questions and insights via email, at [email protected].

“I tell people that all the time. Just do it. Just dive in and figure it out. And you’re going to make mistakes and you’re going to fail. But I learned incredible things from that first experience…just from doing that first film.” – Rod Pocowatchit ”Rodrick Pocowatchit (@rawd) is a journalist, screenwriter, actor, and film director. In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and Rod discuss Native Americans in popular culture and movies (3:10); Native American identity (13:40); creating art within your means (23:00); Rod’s entrance into the film industry, and his distribution strategies (30:00); and pow-wow and Native American culture (42:00). “Other” short clip from Rodrick Pocowatchit on Vimeo. Feature films by Rodrick Pocowatchit: Dancing on the Moon Sleepdancer The Dead Can’t Dance Red Hand Notable Links Shaun of the Dead (film) Little Big Man (film) Chief Dan George (actor) Smoke Signals (film) Chris Eyre (film director) King Kung Fu (film) Guy Pocowatchit (actor) George A. Romero (filmmaker) Robert Rodriguez (filmmaker) Richard Linklater (filmmaker) Sundance Institute (film program) Native Program (film program) Rebel Without a Crew, by Robert Rodriguez (book) Sherman Alexie (writer) Pow wow (Native American cultural gathering) Grass Dance (style of Native American dance) Fancy Dance (style of Native American dance) Comanche language LA Skins Fest (film festival) American Indian LA Film and TV Awards Reporting in Indian Country “bingo card,” from the Native American Journalists Association. The Deviate theme music comes from the title track of Cedar Van Tassel’s 2017 album Lumber. Note: We don’t host a “comments” sectio...

“When you are more focused with how other people are practicing their faith than how you are practicing it yourself, you have gone down the wrong path.” – Rany Jazayerli Rany Jazayerli (@jazayerli) is a Chicago-area dermatologist, sportswriter, and co-founder of the Baseball Prospectus website. In 1998 he developed the statistical concept of Pitcher Abuse Points (PAP), which evaluates the impact of high pitch-counts in baseball. In this episode of Deviate, Rolf talks to Rany about growing up the son of Syrian immigrant parents in Wichita (3:40); Rany’s move to Saudi Arabia at a young age, and his relationship with Islam, Syria, and America (14:30); the renowned 19th century Arab religious and military leader Abd el-Kader (19:00); perceptions and realities surrounding the Islamic faith and its place in American society (27:00); and Rany’s predictions for the upcoming baseball season (47:30). For more recent articles from Rany, check out his Ringer article archive. Notable Links A plea for tolerance, by Rany Jazayerli (ESPN article) Does This Suit Make Me Look Terrorist To You? (This American Life segment) Rany on the Royals (baseball blog) K.C. Masterpiece, by Rany Jazayerli (Grantland article) The Sweet Superstition of Rooting for the Royals, by Rolf Potts (Atlantic essay) Kansas City Star oral history of the 2014 AL Wild Card game David Schoenfield (ESPN editor) Obama’s Biggest Mistake, by Rany Jazayerli (Ringer article) Abd el-Kader and the Massacre of Damascus, by Rany Jazayerli (essay) Commander of the Faithful, by John W. Kiser (book) Emir Abd el-Kader (religious and military leader) Elkader, Iowa (town named for Abd el-Kader) Al-Assad regime (Syrian ruling family) Sunni Islam (denomination of Islam) Wahhabism (Islamic doctrine and religious movement) Nation of Islam (African-American religious movement) Dave Chappelle (American Muslim comedian) Lupe Fiasco (American Muslim rapper) Anti-Catholicism in the United States

“You have to understand your own particular journey — and what you need as a writer, and who you are, and what you want out of the publishing process — because that’s what is going to help you make decisions.” – Sophfronia Scott In this episode of Deviate, Rolf speaks with Sophfronia Scott about her working-class Ohio upbringing, and the background behind her name (2:40); her beginnings at TIME Magazine and her groundbreaking article on Generation X (13:00); her mid-life career change and commitment to a career as an author (30:00); her spiritual journey (40:00); and dealing with her son’s experience as a student at Sandy Hook Elementary (49:00). Sophfronia Scott (@Sophfronia) is a writer and author who has debuted three books in the past year, including Unforgivable Love, which retells the tale of Dangerous Liasons in 1940s Harlem; This Child of Faith, a spiritual memoir that touches on the school shooting at Sandy Hook; and Love’s Long Line, a collection of essays. For more information on Sophfronia, including a full list of her publications, check out https://sophfronia.com/ Notable Links Proceeding with Caution by Sophfronia Scott and David M. Gross (TIME article) Stephen Koepp, TIME editor Generation X Reconsidered (TIME, 1997) Great Migration (African-American demographic shift) Lorain, Ohio (Sophfronia’s hometown) Thirtysomething (television series) Girls (television series) Annie Dillard (author) Toni Morrison (novelist) Robert Vivian (writer) VeggieTales (children’s TV show) Top Ten Reasons to be Episcopalian, by Robin Williams Frederick Buechner (writer and theologian) Dietrich Bonhoeffer (theologian) Peter J. Gomes (preacher and theologian) Rob Bell (author and pastor) Thomas Merton (writer and theologian) Confessions of a Guilty Bystander, by Thomas Merton (book) The Journals of Thomas Merton (book series) The Asian Journal of Thomas Merton (book) Surprised by Hope, by N.T. Wright (book) Rumi (poet) Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting

“The magic of history is that the simple, received wisdom we have turns out to be just one part of the story, and we discover a lot about ourselves when we go deeper into it.” – Mark Clague In this episode of Deviate, Rolf deep-dives into the Star Spangled Banner, covering topics including the origins and historical backdrop for the writing of Star Spangled Banner (9:20); the irony of using a British melody for the United States national anthem, and the “lost stanzas” of the original poem (23:12); the song’s complicated history, including specific criticisms (35:00); and the evolution of the song in tandem with our national identity (44:00). This week’s expert, Mark Clague (@usmusicscholar), is a musicology professor at the University of Michigan. He has researched all forms of music in the United States; his recent projects focus on the United States national anthem. For more information on Mark, please check out his Star Spangled Music website, his Star Spangled Songbook, his Poets & Patriots music compilation, and his podcast. Notable Links Francis Scott Key (lawyer and poet) War of 1812 Fort McHenry Woodstock (festival) To Anacreon in Heaven (song) Broadside ballad (music type) Gentlemen’s Club (traditional British social club) Anacreontic Society (music-themed gentlemen’s club) Jimi Hendrix (musician) Alexander Hamilton (Founding Father) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (composer) Joseph Haydn (composer) When the Warrior Returns by Francis Scott Key (poem) Oh Say, Do You Hear (“Abolitionist Star Spangled Banner”) Corps of Colonial Marines America (Neil Diamond song) God Bless the USA (Lee Greenwood song) Performances and adaptations of The Star-Spangled Banner Mentioned renditions of the Star Spangled Banner Marvin Gaye rendition of Star Spangled Banner (at the 1983 NBA All-Star Game) “The All-Star Anthem,” from Grantland Jimi Hendrix rendition of Star Spangled Banner (at the Woodstock Festival) “

“I want to be as clear as I can be on this. Mental health is one of the largest problems we have in society today.” – James Espinoza Lt. James Espinoza is a 25-year veteran of the Wichita Police Department. His father, John Espinoza, who came from a large Mexican-American family in Hutchinson, Kansas, was also a career police officer. James and Rolf attended Wichita North High School together in the 1980s. In this episode of Deviate, Rolf speaks with James about his decision to become a police officer (2:30); community policing (11:05); being a rookie on the police force (18:15); dangers involved with the job (25:30) bad police officers versus bad administrative policies (30:00); changes in policing and technology (34:40); mental health (39:15); and what is misunderstood and underappreciated about police officers (43:15). Notable Links Broken windows theory Rodney King Community policing PR24 nightstick Police body cameras Fleeing felon rule Police crisis intervention team (CIT) Wichita Massacre (the Carr Brothers) BTK Strangler (serial killer) USA Gymnastics sex abuse scandal Stephen Schneider case COPS (TV show) The Wire (TV show) Baltimore Rising (HBO documentary) “Smoke & Ride” by Cadence, featuring Ace Trill & Twansac The Deviate theme music comes from the title track of Cedar Van Tassel’s 2017 album Lumber. Note: We don’t host a “comments” section, but we’re happy to hear your questions and insights via email, at [email protected].

“We have a lot of conflict in this world because we’re too busy putting ourselves into groups.” – Bear Manuel Jerry “Bear” Manuel is a detective assigned to the gang unit in the Wichita Police Department. Prior to his work as a police officer, Bear was a teacher at Head Start, which provides comprehensive early childhood education services to low-income children. He attended junior high and high school with Rolf in the 1980s, and they competed together on the track team. In this episode of Deviate, Rolf speaks with Bear about growing up poor in Wichita (5:10); his decision to become a police officer (10:20); the day-to-day of being a detective and the importance of community policing (14:30); the importance of having a police department that reflects the community you serve (19:30); and the use of deadly force (25:00). Notable Links Head Start (Federal early-childhood education program) Wichita Child Development Center (hospital day care program) Rainbows United (community resource center for special-needs children) “Police officers’ lives are at risk because of a false media narrative,” by Kevin Lawrence, Dallas Morning News The Deviate theme music comes from the title track of Cedar Van Tassel’s 2017 album Lumber. Note: We don’t host a “comments” section, but we’re happy to hear your questions and insights via email, at [email protected].

“I think in every era of music you can find stuff like this — and sometimes you’ll find that it’s superior to the music that really was making it big commercially.” –Michael Carmody In this episode of Deviate Rolf delves into a musical mystery — tracing the fate of ten rock and pop albums (found in a thrift store record bin) that evoke the quintessential look and sound of 1980s music, even though — for whatever reason — they never made it big back in the day. Joining Rolf in this musical investigation is Jedd Beaudoin (@JeddBeaudoin), who hosts the syndicated music show “Strange Currency,” and Michael Carmody (@Carmody68), a musician, record collector, and donut shop entrepreneur. Album art and show notes for each 1980s mystery album are listed below, in chronological order, by time-code. Sue Saad and the Next (Planet/Elektra), 1980 [4:05 – 10:56] Featured song: “I I, Me Me” Links: 1980 Grammy Awards winners 1980 Billboard Year-End Hot 100 Sue Saad on The Hustle with Jon Lamoreaux Joan Jett (musician) John Cougar (musician) Sue Saad and the Next, “Young Girl“ Sue Saad and the Next, “Gimme Love Gimme Pain“ Rush, “Spirit of the Radio“ Led Zeppelin, “D’Yer Maker“ S·P·Y·S (EMI America), 1982 [10:56 – 20:25] Featured song: “She Can’t Wait” Links: 1982 Grammy Awards winners 1982 Billboard Year-End Hot 100 Al Greenwood (Foreigner and S·P·Y·S keyboardist) Mick Jones (Foreigner guitarist) Spooky Tooth (band) SAGA, “On the Loose“ Rainbow (band) The Clocks, “Nobody’s Fool“ The Human League (synth-pop band) Warren Cuccurullo (Missing Persons guitarist) Cinemax (pay-cable TV network) <...

“To be creative, you have to live. You have to exist on this planet for a little bit” – Tod Goldberg Tod Goldberg (@todgoldberg) is an American author and essayist, best known for his novels Gangsterland and Gangster Nation, and the tie-in novels to the television show Burn Notice. He directs the UCR Palm Desert Low Residency MFA program in Creative Writing. In this episode of Deviate, Rolf speaks with Tod about studying true crime and how to get away with murder (2:50); our relationship with athletes and sports (23:30); the Olympics and the Cold War (45:00); and the psychology of fandom and meeting your sports heroes (54:00). For more information Tod Goldberg, you can visit his website, www.todgoldberg.com. Notable books, essays, poems, and podcast episodes “When They Let Them Bleed,” by Tod Goldberg Horny? Las Vegas: A Sexy, Steamy, Downright Sleazy Guide to the City, by Tod Goldberg “Las Vegas was built by gangsters, and we celebrated those stories,” by Tod Goldberg The Pistol Poets by Victor Gischler (novel) “Notes On the Narrative Conundrum of Baseball Fandom,” by Rolf Potts “Literature of Desire: The 1976 Sears Christmas Wish Book,” by Rolf Potts Deviate podcast interview with Tom Bissell Deviate podcast interview with Jessa Crispin “Lines on seeing a Lock of Milton’s Hair,” by John Keats Notable athletes and sporting events mentioned Kim Duk-koo (boxer) Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini (boxer) Mark McGwire (baseball player) Rickey Henderson (baseball player) 1980 Olympic hockey “Miracle on Ice“ Jim Craig (hockey goalkeeper) Mike Eruzione (hockey player) 2017 World Series 2017 NBA Finals Alex Johnson (1970 AL batting champion) Billy Martin (baseball manager) Billy Beane (baseball executive) Ryan Braun (baseball player) Steve Garvey (baseball p...

“Go forward, have strength in your own convictions, enjoy what you’re doing, and you’ll be fine.” – David Latt David Latt (@DavidMLatt) is the co-founder of The Asylum, which is the most prolific independent film studio in Hollywood. In this episode of Deviate, Rolf speaks with David about his path into B-Movies and the beginnings of The Asylum (8:30); independent filmmaking and “mockbusters” (28:00); the Sharknado franchise (43:15); the future of entertainment (1:02:00); and lessons learned throughout his career (1:07:00). For more information on The Asylum, you can visit their website, www.theasylum.cc Notable films and TV shows mentioned: Sorority House Party (Rock and Roll Fantasy) (film) Sharknado (film) Killers (film) Jane White Is Sick & Twisted (film) Transmorphers (film) Giant Shark Versus Mega Octopus (film) Z Nation (film) The Walking Dead (television show) Leprechaun 4 (film) Death Bed: The Bed That Eats (movie) Pulp Fiction (movie) Notable people mentioned: Larry Cohen (B-movie director) Henry Hathaway (B-movie director) Roger Corman (B-movie director) Jeff Kanew (Revenge of the Nerds director) Mia Farrow (actress) Patton Oswalt (comedian) Anthony Ferrante (film director) Craig Engler (Z Nation writer) Other links: Mockbuster (movie genre) Rolf Potts, “Humor Doesn’t Translate Internationally,” from The Believer Tom Shone, “The Glorious Bullshit of “Reservoir Dogs,” from The New Yorker Spike, Mike, Slackers, and Dykes, by John Pierson C5LA (charity) Jimmy Kimmel Live: Mean Tweets – President Obama Edition SyFy (TV network) Sharknado: The Musical This episode was sponsored by the Paris Writing Workshop, an intensive one-month course in the artistic h...

“I thought that if things were hard it somehow meant that you shouldn’t be doing them. I think that was a youthful notion.” –Cynthia Sweeney Cynthia Sweeney (@CynthiaDSweeney) is an American author, whose debut novel, The Nest, was a New York Times bestseller. In this episode of Deviate, Rolf speaks with Cynthia about therapy and hugging (2:00); career changes, writing her first novel, and the benefits of obtaining an MFA (6:30); writing tactics (21:15); starting a career in writing later in life (27:00); signing a seven-figure advance for her debut novel, and navigating the resulting expectations (34:00); writing in different genres, and the process of adapting a novel into a screenplay (46:40); the idea of talent, and its relationship to hard work within the creative process (57:00). For more information on Cynthia Sweeney, you can visit her website, https://www.cynthia-sweeney.com/. Topics discussed: Esther Perel podcast UCLA Extension (writing program) MFA in Writing at Bennington (graduate program) Scriptnotes podcast advice for MFA degrees Poets & Writers (magazine) UCB Theater (improv program) John Irving’s The World According to Garp (novel) Six by Sondheim (documentary) Memento Mori (theory of mortality) “Tell me why I shouldn’t hate you” interview with Cynthia People mentioned: Bret Antony Johnston (author) Peter Ames Carlin (author) Amy Poehler (actress and comedian) Conan O’Brien (TV host and comedian) Jill Soloway (writer/director) Henry Dunow (book agent) George R.R. Martin (author) Dennis Lehane (author) Stephen Sondheim (Broadway composer) Gillian Flynn (author who adapted her own novel for the screen) This episode was sponsored by the Paris Writing Workshop, an intensive one-month course in the artistic heart of Europe. The Deviate theme music comes from the title track of Cedar Van Tassel’s 2017 album Lumber. Note: We don’t host a “comments” section, but we’re happy to hear your questions and insights via email, at [email protected].

“It’s helpful to have a thing that only exists in your imagination, as long as you are aware that that’s what it is. It’s only when you try to drag it into reality that it goes to a weird place.” –Jessa Crispin Jessa Crispin (@thebookslut) is an author, book critic, former editor-in-chief of the pioneering literary blog Bookslut, and current host of the podcast Public Intellectual. Her books include The Dead Ladies Project: Exiles, Expats, and Ex-Countries and The Creative Tarot: A Modern Guide to an Inspired Life. In this episode of Deviate, Rolf speaks with Jessa on all things Keanu Reeves. Through this lens, they explore high school, and how ones world is forever contextualized by that experience (16:30); hooking up with celebrities in the social media age (29:40); adolescent crushes and idealized love (34:30); and personal obsessions (43:10). For more information on Jessa Crispin, visit her website, www.jessacrispin.com. Links of note: Jessa Crispin’s favorite YouTube video of Keanu Reeves clips Jessa Crispin and Jen May’s tarot deck Lisa Frank stickers Tiger Beat (teen magazine) Guiding Light and As the World Turns (soap operas) Burning Man (gathering/event) Jessa’s podcast interview with Neal Pollack Joe Rogan’s podcast interview with Henry Rollins “Julian Edelman learns falling asleep with strangers is a bad idea,” from the Washington Post Evan Wright’s “Scenes From My Life in Porn,” from the LA Weekly Rolf’s Kansas City Royals Twitter list The Goddess Kali Notable People Mentioned: Cosima Wagner (wife of Richard Wagner) William James (philosopher) David Fincher (director) Paul Verhoeven (director) David Wojnarowicz (queer painter and writer) Paul Monette (queer author and poet) Cary Grant (actor) Tori Amos (singer-songwriter) Nina Hoss (German actress) Notable Films Mentioned:

“The Sears Christmas Wish Book was, for me, a kind of foundational text — a secular counterpoint to the Bible stories I learned around that time in Sunday School. I paged through the holiday catalog’s 620 glossy pages as if they amounted to an intoxicating graphic novel of desire, rich with abundance and possibility.” – Rolf Potts, from “Literature of Desire” In this episode Rolf reads an audio version of his Christmas-themed essay “Literature of Desire,” and discusses the wonders of the Sears Christmas Wish Book with novelist Tod Goldberg (@todgoldberg). Tod is the New York Times bestselling author of over a dozen books, including the novel Gangsterland, which is currently being developed into a television series. He is also the director of the University of California-Riverside Palm Desert Low-Residency MFA, and the co-host of the Literary Disco podcast. Introduction (00:35 – 11:20) Vintage Sears Wish Book online archive What Exactly is Christmas Tree Flocking? from Mental Floss Klonopin (anxiety medication) Janis Ian (singer-songwriter) Enchroma glasses (to correct colorblindness) Literature of Desire essay (11:20 – 32:20) Richard Warren Sears (catalog founder) Mr. Sears’ Catalog (video) from PBS’s American Experience Sears Catalog Home (ready-to-assemble houses) That ’70s Show, Happy Days, Good Times, Welcome Back, Kotter (TV shows) Christie Brinkley and Renee Russo (fashion models) Pong (video game) Big Jim’s P.A.C.K. (toy line) Jay J. Armes (private investigator) JJ Armes action figure (TV commercial) “Is Jay J. Armes For Real?” from Texas Monthly WishBookcom Sears Wish Book memories (32:20 – 50:10) Action figures (dolls marketed to boys) Toughskins (jeans for children) Huffy (bicycle brand) BEST (showroom retail store) “

“These travel podcasts are great because you just drive around talking, and people feel like they’re sitting in the back seat.” – Ari Shaffir Ari Shaffir (@AriShaffir) is a comedian whose standup special Double Negative recently debuted on Netflix. He is the former host of Comedy Central’s storytelling show This is Not Happening, the current host of the Skeptic Tank podcast, and the perennial host and organizer of Shroomfest. In this freewheeling episode of Deviate, Rolf drives Ari around Los Angeles on a quest to get a burrito. Along the way they cover numerous topics, including Tinder and dating (8:30); their conflicted relationship with smartphones and technology (32:30); the psychic merits of taking magic mushrooms (55:15); and the awkward etiquette of when it is and is not appropriate to hug someone (1:36:50). People and interviews mentioned: Paul Thomas Anderson (film director) Sam Tripoli (comedian) Jessa Crispin (writer and critic) Keanu Reeves (actor) Vanna White (television personality) Tiffani Amber Thiessen (actress) George Brett (baseball player) Roger Staubach (football player) Ernest White II on Deviate Rolf Potts on Ari Shaffir’s Skeptic Tank Bert Kreischer (comedian) Quentin Tarantino (director) Joe Rogan (comedian / podcaster) Tim Ferriss on Deviate Nancy Reagan’s “Just Say No” campaign Other links: Bushwick (neighborhood in Brooklyn) Boogie Nights (film) The 2017 World Series, Astros v. Dodgers The 2015 World Series, Royals v. Mets Bleach and Nevermind (albums by Nirvana) Mother Love Bone (band) Jane’s Addiction (band) Fugazi (band) Pasadena’s Suicide Bridge Pulp Fiction (film) Magic mushrooms “

“If you go through your life expecting moral purity from every artist you love, you’re going to have a very lonely life, aesthetically.” – Tom Bissell Tom Bissell is an American author, journalist, and critic. He co-authored the book The Disaster Artist, which has been adapted into a movie starring James Franco, Seth Rogen, Dave Franco, and Alison Brie. In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and Tom discuss Metallica and thrash metal (5:25); violence in music and video games (23:30); how one’s relationship to one’s own writing transforms over time (28:10); the shallowness of cultural criticism in social-media (33:55); the dubious concept of “authenticity” as applied to food, music, and travel (42:00); co-writingThe Disaster Artist with actor Greg Sestero, and making sense of The Room (58:50); and finding joy and contentment within the creative process (1:06:00). Articles, books and movies: The Geto Boys, by Rolf Potts Slayer’s Reign in Blood, by D.X. Ferris Some Kind of Monster (documentary film about Metallica) The Defiant Ones (documentary about Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre) Straight Outta Compton (movie about N.W.A) “My Holy Land Vacation,” by Tom Bissell “Euphorias of Perrier: The Case Against Robert D. Kaplan,” by Tom Bissell “One Man’s Odyssey into ‘Eat, Pray, Love’,” by Rolf Potts Masters of Doom: How Two Guys Created an Empire and Transformed Pop Culture, by David Kushner Deep South: Four Seasons on Back Roads, by Paul Theroux “The Mystical High Church of Luck,” by Rolf Potts (about Las Vegas) “Humor Doesn’t Translate Internationally,” by Rolf Potts (about The Asylum) Bands, songs, and albums mentioned Metallica (thrash-metal band) Anthrax (thrash-metal band) Slayer (thrash-metal band) Testament (thrash-metal band) The Exploited (punk band) Public Enemy (rap group) NWA (rap group) “Angel of Death” (song, by Slayer) “

“The top of a mountain is just a pile of rock and ice, and it’s really not much different than being a couple hundred feet lower. What’s important are the lessons that you learn along the way when you’re fighting like hell to get up there. And then what you’re going to do with that information to be better going forward.” – Alison Levine Alison Levine (@Levine_Alison) is an American mountaineer, leadership consultant, and public speaker. She is one of less than 60 people to have ascended the highest peaks on every continent and skied to both the North and South Poles (known as the Explorers Grand Slam). Her 2014 book On the Edge: Leadership Lessons from Mount Everest and Other Extreme Environments was a New York Times Bestseller. In Episode 4 of Deviate, Rolf discusses introversion versus extroversion (1:45); summiting Mount Everest and overcoming obstacles (18:55); respecting culture while fostering progress (37:00); Alison’s career path, and lessons learned along the way (51:20); finding mentors (1:04:30); and Alison’s most important life advice, including the importance of failure (1:16:26). You can find out more about The Glass Ceiling, Alison Levine’s documentary project about the first Nepali woman to climb Mt. Everest, at theglassceilingmovie.com or via her Indiegogo fundraising campaign. Notable People Mentioned: Pasang Lhamu Sherpa (mountaineer) Edmund Hillary (mountaineer) Tenzing Norgay (mountaineer) Pete Dawkins (businessman) Links: TripScout (self-guided city-tour mobile app) Climb High Foundation (teaching women in developing nations trekking-related tourism skills) Thayer Leader Development Group at West Point “Freedom to Fail,” by Pete Dawkins (from Infantry Magazine, Sept/Oct.1965) This episode was sponsored by the Paris Writing Workshop, an intensive one-month course in the artistic heart of Europe. The Deviate theme music comes from the title track of Cedar Van Tassel’s 2017 album Lumber. Note: We don’t host a “comments” section, but we’re happy to hear your questions and insights via email, at [email protected].

“You should write down what you would like your future to look like, because otherwise you will be on autopilot.” – Rolfe Kent In Episode 3 of Deviate, Rolf discusses music and the creative process with accomplished Hollywood film composer Rolfe Kent (@rolfekent), whose recent project, The Zen Effect, is available on iTunes. To download a free track from The Zen Effect, visit Rolfe’s website. Links: Tools: FS Binaural Microphone The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles, by Steven Pressfield The Artist’s Way Morning Pages Journal, by Julia Cameron Ketogenic diet Oblique Strategies, created by Brian Eno and Peter Schmidt Pomodoro Technique (time management) Melodica (instrument) Mixtapes as a Lost Language: A Brief Cultural Primer Rolfe’s film and TV scores discussed in the interview: Dexter theme (television series) Sideways (film) Up in the Air (film) The Hunting Party (film) Mexico City (film) Reign Over Me (film) Mean Girls (film) Wedding Crashers (film) Legally Blonde (film) Notable film music discussed: James Bond theme (by Monty Norman) Star Wars theme (by John Williams) Mission Impossible theme (by Lalo Schifrin) Blade Runner theme (by Vangelis) The Good, the Bad and the Ugly main theme (by Ennio Morricone) Lawrence of Arabia main theme (by Maurice Jarre) Paris, Texas theme (by Ry Cooder) Steven Soderbergh’s ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ remix (which uses music from The Social Network) Notable people mentioned: Alexander Payne (director) Richard Shepard (director) Jason Reitman (director) Brian Eno (music producer)

“Culture is cosmetic” – Ernest White In Episode 2 of Deviate, Rolf explores friendship and culture as he goes on a road trip with friend, travel writer, and storyteller Ernest White (@ernestwhiteii), whose new TV show, Fly Brother, comes out soon. Links: Media Links Gringo Trails, by Pegi Vail (travel documentary) The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration, by Isabel Wilkerson James Baldwin (author) Notes of a Native Son, by James Baldwin The Fire Next Time, by James Baldwin Passing Strange (Broadway musical / movie) Show Notes: Adult friendships and sexual orientation (8:00) Race (21:10) Cross-cultural travel dynamics (25:15) Recognizing commonalities and appreciating differences (43:40) Cultural conditioning (46:23) Brotherhood (54:15) This episode was sponsored by the Paris Writing Workshop, an intensive one-month course in the artistic heart of Europe. The Deviate theme music comes from the title track of Cedar Van Tassel’s 2017 album Lumber. Note: We don’t host a “comments” section, but we’re happy to hear your questions and insights via email, at [email protected].

“If you never got paid for podcasting, would the skills and relationships you developed be enough to keep you doing it? If the answer is ‘no’, I wouldn’t pull the trigger.” – Tim Ferriss In the inaugural episode of Deviate, Rolf goes meta and talks about podcasting with bestselling author and lifestyle-design guru Tim Ferriss (@tferriss), whose newest book, Tribe of Mentors: Short Life Advice from the Best in the World, debuts this week. Update (12/07/17): An abridged transcript for this episode is now available online in blog form, as “Tim Ferriss on his 17 principles for how to create a successful podcast.” Links: Podcasting Tools Ecamm Call Recorder (28:04) Zencastr (28:08) ATR2100 USB Microphone (28:38) Zoom H6 Recorder (1:15:24) Zoom H1 Recorder Shure SM7B Mic Audacity (software) Auphonic (postproduction web service) Yellowtec: iXm (self-enclosed mic) Evernote (web application) Other links Rolf Potts on the Tim Ferriss Show Ed Catmull on the Tim Ferriss Show Arnold Schwarzenegger on the Tim Ferriss Show Edward Norton on the Tim Ferriss Show Dom D’Agostino on Ketosis and the End of Cancer on the Tim Ferriss Show Nick Szabo: The Quiet Master of Cryptocurrency on the Tim Ferriss Show Jocko Willink on the Tim Ferriss Show Debbie Millman on the Tim Ferriss Show Blue Ocean Strategy: How to Create Uncontested Market Space and Make Competition Irrelevant, by W. Chan Kim and Renee Mauborgne “1,000 True Fans,” by Kevin Kelly Joe Rogan podcast WTF with Marc Maron podcast Nerdist podcast James Lipton (interviewer from Inside the Actors Studio) Terry Gross (interviewer from NPR’s Fresh Air) Serial podcast Spirited Away (2001 animated movie) Agaric mushroom Tentacle erotica Show notes: